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0. G. PFRANKS. FOLDING LEG FOR FURNITURE.

Patented Mar. 7, l1893.

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M W IW@ @@O E nomme PETERS co. mcmru'rha., wAsri UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN G. FRANKS, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH VESTERN VIRE MATTRESS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING LEG FOR FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION-fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 493,021, dated March 7, 1893. Appuaaonneanmmber14,1892. serai 110.451.916. cromati.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORRIN G. FRANKS, a citi; zen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county ofv Kenosha and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Furniture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to folding cot-beds, tables, benches and similar articles.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a plan of a structure 'embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the line cL-b of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar section, the structure being folded. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the locking device.

A is a rectangular frame, which may constitute a part of a bed, table, bench, or other similar article. Said frame has parallel side pieces, A', between which pairs of legs, B, are secured in such manner as to permit the folding of said legs between said side pieces, A.

A2 are spring-braces secured to the side pieces, A', and having their free ends hinged to the legs, B, at B. Said spring-braces act in the two-fold capacity of springs and braces for maintaining the v position of the legs. Rungs, B2, or other well-known means, connect the legs, B, of each pair above and below, the upper of said rungs extending outward through said legs so as to form projections, BB, at each side of the pairs of legs.

A3 are channels or ways upon the inner face of each side piece, A', the end of said way toward the middle of the frame, A, being extended upward as shown at a3 in Fig. 4. The said projections, B3, reach into engagement with said way, AB.

The relative arrangement of the parts is such that when the legs, B, are substantially upright, the free ends of the springs, A2, will stand drawn downward under tension and the projections, B3, rest in the upward extensions, ct, of the ways, A3, and are pressed forcibly upward into said extensions, \and so long as this position continues, said legs are immovable in a direction parallel to the length of said spring-braces, for the hinge,

B', holds said legs at one point and the walls of the extensions, as, hold said legs at another point. To unlock and fold the legs, the latter must be pressed downward against the strength of the spring-braces, A2, until the projections, B3, descend out of engagement with the extensions, as. Then the legs may be rotated upon the hinges, B2, by turning the upper ends away from the middle of the structure, the projections, B3, sliding on the ways, A3. The legs, B, may be made of proper shape to adapt them to lie wholly between the side pieces, A', when the legs are folded. The spring-braces, A2, will aid in raising the lower ends of the legs, B, and hold them in a folded position between said side pieces, A.

Obviously, separate spring-braces, A2, may be provided for each pair of legs, B. Furthermore, an article of furniture may be provided with only one pair of legs constructed as herein described.

l. In folding furniture, the combination with thebody of a piece of furniture, provided with opposite ways, A3, having upward extensions, a?, of a pair of legs having at their upper ends projections, B3, extending into engagement with said ways, and springbraces hinged to said legs and secured to said body in such manner as to draw upward on said legs, whereby the projections, B3, are held in engagement with the extensions, a3, when the legs are in the vertical position.

2. In folding furniture, the combination with the body of a piece of furniture/provided with substantially parallel side pieces, A', having channeled ways, A3, terminating at 011e end in the upward extension, 0,3, of legs located between said side pieces and having at their upper ends lateral projections, B3, extending into said Ways, and braoe in presence of two Witnesses, this 2d day of springs hinged by one end to said legs and November, in the year 1892. secured rigidly by the other end to the body of the piece of furniture, and arranged to be ORRIN G. FRANKS. 5 under tension to draw upward ou said legs, Vituesses:

substantially as described. JAMES CAVANAGH,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, CYRUS KEHR. 

